Miguel Pedraza, 62

Died Sept. 3, 2010 at 5:12 p.m.

Miguel Pedraza, a 62-year-old Latino, was found dead in a storage unit Friday, Sept. 3, in the 4300 block Irwindale Avenue in Irwindale, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Pedraza's body was found shortly after a driver rammed the gate of the storage facility to force his way out, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The driver had been unable to leave because he did not have a security code to open the gate, and the facility staff refused to open it for him, authorities said. Witnesses wrote down the license plate and a description of the car.

Irwindale police responded about 4 p.m. to the facility, and while investigating they received a call from Baldwin Park police. Officers there had detained the driver of the car involved in the earlier confrontation after the car was involved in a traffic accident in that city.

Irwindale police were able to connect the car to a particular storage unit, where they found Pedraza's body.

The driver has been arrested and identified as Jonathan Pedraza, a 24-year-old Latino and son of the victim. He was booked on suspicion of murder.

Jonathan Pedraza is being held at the Glendora Police Department in lieu of $1-million bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 8 at the Pomona Municipal Court.

— Ruben Vives and Sarah Ardalani

Photo: Jonathan Pedraza. Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department